First lady "most powerful woman in the world," says O'Reilly

Actually it was alter-ego Talking Points who said it last night 2/20/08, in yet another scolding of Michelle Obama, wife of Barack and potential First Lady. O'Reilly spent more time trying to make a federal case out of her remarks about being proud of her country for the first time in her adult life, exhibiting political opportunism just a step below Cindy McCain in subtlety.

Tuesday night he asked if Michelle Obama dislikes America? He was talking out of both sides of his mouth, saying that " Mrs. Obama said something that has caused major controversy, and she said it twice," and "Well, the fact that Michelle Obama has not clarified the situation is a major mistake for the Obama campaign," but denying the negative implications he just made: "Now I'm willing, I'm willing to give Mrs. Obama the benefit of the doubt if she wants that benefit. The problem is she's been silent, letting others speak for her."

He framed it so he was being reasonable and fairminded even as he was insisting that the spokesman's explanation was insufficient. He titled his column "Does Michelle Obama Dislike America?" but wrapped it up with the wishy-washy endorsement "Again, I don't believe Michelle Obama dislikes her country. I sincerely hope she does not, but this is a big deal. It is not going away. And the Obama campaign should understand that."

And it did not go away, for Bill. He brought it up again the following night, after the rest of the world had shrugged it off.

Last night (drip, drip, drip) he took one last residual swipe at Ms. Obama and chastised the mythical liberal media for not playing along with him and having a hissy fit:

"There's no question the left-wing press in America is favoring Barack Obama, and Hillary Clinton must be wondering why.

Here's more 'proof' of that. After Michelle Obama's controversial comments that for the first time she's proud of her country, most left-wing media played it down. The Washington Post, for example, didn't even mention it in the paper. The New York Times and L.A. Times buried it deep in the back pages. And today, the press pretty much avoided the issue all together, although Mrs. Obama herself said this.

"So let me tell you something: I am proud. I'm proud of this country. And I'm proud of the fact that people are ready to roll up their sleeves and do something phenomenal."

Fine, but Michelle Obama should understand that words have meaning. This is an important situation. Why? Because if her husband becomes president, she becomes the most powerful woman in the world. And Americans have a right to know exactly how she feels about her country."

Comment: All this proves is that the grown-up media understood what she was saying in the first place. It is O'Reilly and the rest of the right-wing media, especially talk radio where he also spouts his venom, who will work to undermine the Democratic candidate, spinning and twisting furiously. But Americans have wised up to the tactics and agendas from the right and after 7+ years of corrupt mismanagement and deceit are finally learning to think for themselves and stand up to the media bullies. Michelle Obama is not the only one, by a long shot, who's finally feeling real pride, not that jingoistic flag-waving crap that passes for patriotism on the right.